Web: www.ldac.eu MIACO – Meeting between ICES, the ACs and

Web: www.ldac.eu MIACO – Meeting between ICES, the ACs and

REPORT
Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (LDAC)
Web: www.ldac.eu
MIACO – Meeting between ICES, the ACs and Other Observers
ICES HQ, Copenhagen, 13-14 January 2015
Date: 28 January 2015
Priority area of work (extracted from the LDAC Work Programme for 2014-2015)
To work closely with the scientists looking for the involvement of the LDAC not only in
the evaluation of the fishing stocks, but also in the recovery plans of the species this AC
is affected by.
1. Terms of Reference
ICES will invite the Advisory Councils (ACs) and ICES observer organizations to meet with
the ACOM leadership, chaired by ACOM Chair, Eskild Kirkegaard, at ICES Headquarters
13–14 January 2015 to:
a) Discuss practical arrangements in 2015 for cooperation between ACs/observers
and ICES, including procedures for delivering and discussion of the ICES advice;
b) Review progress on following up of action points from the 2014 MIRAC meeting;
c) Invite ACs/observers to report on their experience of working with ICES during
2014 and to present their research and advisory needs, and discuss ICES’
experience of participating in RAC meetings in 2014;
d) Discuss the plan for further development of ICES advice in relation to integrated
advice (bycatch), integrated ecosystem assessments and ecosystem overviews,
format of advice, MSY-approach and landing obligation/discard ban;
e) Discuss options for further development of the accessibility of ICES advice.
2. LDAC contribution to the meeting
The LDAC attended this meeting and was represented by a delegation of three
representatives: Juan Manuel Liria (Vice-Chair, representing the Fishing Sector); Javier
López (Oceana, representing the Other Groups of Interest); and Alexandre Rodríguez
(Executive Secretary).
LDAC Summary report on MIACO 2015 – Copenhagen, 13-14 January 2015
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The ACs were asked to make an assessment of dialogue held with ICES during 2014 and
formulate proposals for future collaboration in 2015 and onwards. The following
summary was given by the LDAC Executive Secretary:
2.1.
ICES participation in AC meetings
The LDAC appreciates the increased level of openness and transparency of ICES towards
external users/stakeholders during the last years. Dialogue between scientists and
fisheries stakeholders has improved and become more frequent in the ACs, within ICES
groups and in workshops, EU projects and other fora. This increased transparency will
hopefully enable fishermen, NGOs and citizens to benefit of a better understanding of
the state of the stocks, although there are still mixed messages regarding uncertainty
and scientific basis for data limited (deficient) stocks.
The LDAC is thankful of the possibility of prominent ICES scientists to attend AC meetings
and present relevant ICES advice via the annual MoU signed with the European
Commission.
2.2.
Presentation of ICES Advice and Training Programmes
Due to the specific nature of the LDAC, with few stocks outside Community waters dealt
with by ICES, there has been no direct participation of ICES scientists at LDAC meetings
in 2014. However, the LDAC would be interested in inviting an ICES ACOM
representative to participate regularly at WG2 meeting (Regional Fisheries
Organisations and north Atlantic agreements), which takes place twice a year. ICES
attendance will help to improve mutual understanding in relation to ICES advice for the
North East Atlantic and interaction between ICES and the Scientific Council of NEAFC.
Regarding better understanding of science, the LDAC is supportive of the continuation
of training courses on basics of stock assessment for EC and stakeholders.
2.3.
LDAC participation in ICES meetings
The LDAC is committed to nominate representatives to attend those benchmark and
data compilation workshops focused on stocks that are relevant for us, for example
some of the Artic stocks such as redfish, Greenland halibut, etc.
LDAC Summary report on MIACO 2015 – Copenhagen, 13-14 January 2015
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The LDAC also wishes to be more involved and participate in contributing to the thinking
on fully documented fisheries, multispecies approach, etc. The LDAC is of the opinion
that ICES WG on Maritime Systems (WGMARS) might be a good platform and act as a
“think tank” on this. WGMARS is a well-established body which allows interaction and
in-depth discussions between scientists involved in assessments and fisheries and
marine stakeholders with the aim to achieve a sustainable exploitation and conservation
of fishing resources from a biological, social and economic perspective.
2.4.
Future areas for collaboration
The LDAC would be interested in strengthening links with ICES in the coming years and
find ways of collaboration for scientific support in areas such as improving selectivity
and reducing catches of juvenile tuna stocks and other associated by-catches (e.g.
improvement of the use of FADs); or assisting in evaluating, jointly with STECF, the
biological and economic effects of the implementation of the forthcoming landing
obligation for EU fleets in international waters.
The LDAC is also interested in improving the communication between LDAC, ICES and
scientific bodies of RFMOs such as NEAFC (ICES client) and NAFO in terms of provision
of advice regarding key commercial stocks for the long distance fleet (e.g. Greenland
halibut, redfish...). Also collaboration with ICCAT in this area would be sought.
This spirit of collaboration between the LDAC and ICES could be articulated in several
ways proactively, for example through special requests for advice via the Commission or
by securing dedicated funding through EMFF or transnational projects such as fisheriesscience partnerships.
2.5.
Implementation of landing obligation
The development of discard plan for pelagic and demersal species is a key topic for all
EU vessels fishing both in EU waters and offshore outside the EEZ; the scientific advice
(including ecosystem and mixed fisheries considerations) will be much needed for these
plans to be successful and effective and periodic review of the effectiveness of
management measures in place will be crucial for improving the biology of the stocks.
The LDAC will pursue to secure a seat, in observer capacity, at STECF EWG on
Implementation of LO so it can be actively involved in shaping the definition of the
different constituent elements of the discards plans (e.g. survivability exemptions, de
minimis, etc.)
LDAC Summary report on MIACO 2015 – Copenhagen, 13-14 January 2015
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3. Main outcomes and actions of the meeting

Interested ACs should contact ICES Secretariat to propose specific research
initiatives including funding sources under existing (FP7, Atlantic Programme)
or coming projects (H2020).

There are new funding opportunities for research and scientific projects for the
ACs under articles 85-86 of the EMFF Regulation. These will be based on
individual calls for proposals for pilot projects/studies launched by the
Commission, and will be dependent on budget availability and eligibility criteria
for each call.

The ACs must inform ICES Secretariat on their forthcoming meetings (dates and
venues) and invitations to scientists should be submitted in due course. The
LDAC will try to secure participation of an ICES ACOM representative at the next
WG2, likely to take place in Bilbao (Spain) in late April.

ICES Head of Advisory Services noted that participation from stakeholders is
possible in observer capacity at the ACOM, ADG and EWG – registration available
at: [email protected]

A Pelagic AC representative suggested to have half a day consultation before and
half a day after you come to the Advisory Drafting Groups for providing
stakeholders’ input through the advisory process.

The ACs are invited to provide requests for Benchmark Workshops (BWK) for
2016 and onwards so ICES can consider to include them on their annual budget.
However, it was also noted that input from stakeholders will be limited at BWK
unless it is a good preparation and relevant data are submitted beforehand (i.e.
generally at least 2 months before through the Data Compilation Workshops).

Upon request by some fishing sector representatives, an exchange of anecdotes
of the practical implementation of the landing obligation that was in place for 12
days took place, including details of port and control authorities.

ICES will change the current standard format of advice from 2016 and present a
new format with a structure of advice for each ecoregion in three levels:
1. Ecosystem based advisory deliverables;
2. Fisheries based advisory deliverables;
3. Fish stocks based advisory deliverables.
-ENDLDAC Summary report on MIACO 2015 – Copenhagen, 13-14 January 2015
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